These fascinating small cities and burgeoning big towns across the United States offer great green spaces, myriad recreational opportunities, thriving downtowns, and active local communities—not to mention reasonable real estate prices—making them the perfect destinations to set up house and put down roots. But hurry, it’s only a matter of time before they get discovered (and overcrowded and overpriced).

Novak Brothers LLC hired Bill Paetznick and Morgan McLaughlin as president and vice president of Novak Commercial Construction, respectively. Both new hires were also appointed partners of the firm. In their new positions, Paetznick and McLaughlin will lead and oversee development and construction for all commercial property types under the Novak Brothers Commercial Construction Division.

Veteran commercial real estate executive Andy Heard was hired by Novak Brothers LLC as President of Commercial Development and Partner. In his new role, Heard will be responsible for leading new development and acquisition strategies across a variety of commercial property types.

Heard comes to the Georgetown, TX-based Novak brothers from Hines Interests, where he served as Managing Director and City Leader for the Austin and San Antonio markets. Heard has been involved in transactions totaling more than $550 million dollars, and three million square feet of office, retail, multifamily, condominium, industrial and hospitality product.

To build the largest mixed-use project ever in this formerly sleepy suburb north of Austin, former pro football lineman Jeff Novak had to convince global players to buy into his vision. That included using a novel financing mechanism that provides immigrant visas to foreign investors.

The Sheraton Georgetown Texas Hotel and Con- ference Center housed its first guests at the end of July.

A crowd of about 350 gathered for the unveiling of the four-star, seven-story hotel west of Interstate 35 that anchors the 32-acre Summit at Rivery Park development and offers 222 guest rooms and a conference center.

A joint venture between owners Hines Interests of Houston and Novak Brothers of Georgetown, Starwood Ho- tels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced in 2014 the hotel would operate under its Sheraton brand.

“This is a day of thanks,” said Jeff Novak, founder and CEO of Novak Brothers De- velopment, developer of the Sheraton. “Therewereamillionthings that had to go right to get this done. Sometimes it felt like pushing a boulder uphill — it wasnot easy—but here we are today.”

Georgetown Mayor Dale Ross said the day was “historic” for the city. “A project of this magnitude and quality reinforces to the rest of the country that Georgetown is a can-do city that can com- plete major projects,” he said. “There was so much collaboration involved— this is part of the reason we are the fastest-growing city.”

Those inattendance enjoyed a luncheon before taking tours of the facility’s guest rooms, club lounge, conference center and Brix And Ale restaurant. Chet Garner of the PBS television show “The Daytripper” checked into the hotel as its first official guest. In the first five months since opening, several major conferences and events have taken place at the new venue.

Austin, Texas – A new luxury hotel in Georgetown is expected to help lure more conventions – a lucrative sector of the travel industry that officials say has largely bypassed the city in recent years.

The 222-room Sheraton Georgetown Texas Hotel & Conference Center, at 1101 Woodlawn Ave., welcomed its first guests July 28, giving the city 30,000 square feet of meeting space – including a 16,000-square-foot ballroom – to accommodate business travelers.

Two developers – Hines and Novak Brothers – teamed up to make the project a reality.

Previously, Georgetown didn’t have much in the way of higher-end lodging options, Novak Brothers founder and CEO Jeff Novak said, prompting companies to hold their functions in nearby communities, such as Austin and Round Rock.

The city’s other hotel options include a Hampton Inn & Suites, a Holiday Inn Express & Suites and a Best Western Plus, among others.

“Where could we host corporate executives? They’d end up at a limited-service hotel,” Novak said. “There’s nothing wrong with those hotels, but that wasn’t the experience we were looking to sell. Now, we’ve set a new standard of service and luxury in Georgetown.”

Aside from the meeting and event space, the Sheraton’s other amenities include a heated outdoor pool and fitness center.

The Georgetown Convention and Visitors Bureau plans to step up its marketing efforts now that the Sheraton is up and running, tourism manager Cari Miller said.

“With the addition of the new hotel and conference center, we can now promote Georgetown as a meeting and conference destination,” she said. “Georgetown … is the perfect location for a wonderful meeting experience.”

The hotel is part of a larger development, called The Summit at Rivery Park, that will include residential, retail and entertainment components. Georgetown Mayor Dale Ross calls it a “game-changing project” for the city.

“This project is positioned for the highest level of success,” he said.

In its first week of operation, Sheraton general manager Rita Healy said the hotel is already being embraced by tourists, as well as area residents eager to check out its food and drink options: Jack’s Lounge and Brix and Ale.

Brix and Ale serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, while Jack’s Lounge features an assortment of wines and craft cocktails.

“I truly believe we have something for everyone,” said Healy, who arrives in Georgetown after a stint at a Westin resort in Tucson, Ariz. “It’s been great to finally welcome guests into the building, to see their smiling faces in the lobby and to hear their laughter in our lounge. Everything so far has been amazingly smooth.”

So smooth, in fact, that Novak says he’d like to open similar hotels elsewhere.

“My brother and I are more proud of this than just about anything we’ve done,” he said. “It blows my mind every day when I’m driving on the freeway and see it. I’m super proud of it.”

THE NEW SHERATON GEORGETOWN TEXAS HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER HAS OPENED ITS DOORS TO GUESTS.

Austin, Texas – Georgetown, Texas, a city sited 27 miles north of Austin, welcomed its first full-service hotel with Hines and Novak Brothers’ completion of the Sheraton Georgetown Texas Hotel & Conference Center. The 222-key luxury lodging property features 30,000 square feet of meeting space.

It’s not Dallas, it’s not Houston and it’s not precisely a stone’s throw from Austin, but there’s something about Georgetown, and that something was a magnet for Hines. “Georgetown is the fastest-growing city in the nation, there are no full-service hotels in the area, no meeting facilities of this scale north of Austin, and the project anchors a successful mixed-use development called the Summit at Rivery Park. The confluence of these factors made the decision to develop here very compelling,” Andy Heard, managing director with Hines, told Commercial Property Executive.

Carrying the address of 1101 Woodlawn Ave., Sheraton Georgetown is prominently located at the center of the 32-acre Summit at Rivery Park, an upscale residential and entertainment district developed by Novak. The seven-story hotel, designed by Rabun Associates, comes with all the expected offerings of a luxury property, including a heated outdoor pool, premier fitness center and enticing dining options. And the conference center’s sizable state-of-the-art meeting accommodations include a 16,000-square-foot ballroom.

Watch out, Austin! “Austin’s growth has pushed north into the Georgetown area, making this an ideal time to bring our full service Sheraton brand into the market,” Rita Healy, general manager of Sheraton Georgetown Texas, told CPE. “This is another step in Georgetown’s economic development, and the addition of a full-service hotel with extensive meeting and event facilities provides opportunities for social events and meetings to stay in Williamson County instead of traveling into Austin.”

As Heard noted, Georgetown is on the upswing. A 7.8 percent population increase puts the town at the top of the list of the country’s fastest-growing cities with populations exceeding 50,000, according to numbers released by the U.S. Census Bureau this year. Sheraton Georgetown is, Georgetown mayor Dale Ross said in a prepared statement, “a game-changing project for our city.”

THE FIRST FULL-SERVICE HOTEL IN GEORGETOWN, TEXAS, OPENS ITS DOORS TO THE COMMUNITY

Georgetown, Texas – Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT), today announced the opening of the Sheraton Georgetown Texas Hotel & Conference Center, a 222-room hotel located in the heart of Georgetown, Texas, and just 27 miles outside of Austin. The hotel offers ample meeting space with sophisticated design, appealing dining options and convenient access to the city’s most charming attractions. A joint venture between owners Hines and Novak Brothers, Sheraton Georgetown Texas Hotel & Conference Center is the Sheraton brand’s 15th hotel to open in the “Lone Star State.”

“Texas is one of the top destinations for both leisure and business travelers alike, and an important market for the Sheraton brand to continue its growth in,” said Bob Jacobs, Vice President of Brand Management, Sheraton North America. “The opening of Sheraton Georgetown Texas Hotel & Conference Center underscores our focus on continuously enhancing our portfolio with even more compelling options for our guests and is a valued asset to the brand.”

Featuring an upscale, Lone Star-inspired design, with rich wood accents and vibrant color palettes, the hotel aesthetic captures the charm of Georgetown with paintings and sculptures from local artists displayed throughout the building. The hotel’s stylish and cozy guest rooms are each equipped with all of the Sheraton brand’s signature amenities and services, including a premium sleep experience. The property also features a heated outdoor pool, fitness center and the Sheraton Club Lounge, which offers complimentary breakfast, beverages and evening hors d’oeuvres for Sheraton Club guests.

The uniquely designed Lobby Lounge serves as an open hub for meeting, eating and connecting. During the day, the Lobby Lounge offers a relaxed setting to work and mingle. In the evening, it transforms into a social atmosphere with the Lobby Bar featuring Sheraton’s signature Paired program with premium wines by the glass and local craft beer. The hotel’s signature restaurant, Brix And Ale, serves classic comfort cuisine, complemented by a carefully curated menu of local wine, beer and cocktails. Additionally, guests can enjoy 24-hour room service.

The conference center offers a range of layouts and pricing options flexible enough to accommodate events of all sizes, from small social gatherings to extravagant weddings and corporate meetings. The center boasts 30,000 square feet of functional meeting space, including a 16,000-square-foot ballroom with 10 distinct sections, and four breakout rooms including a state of the art boardroom.

“There is no doubt this is a game-changing project for our city,” said Dale Ross, Mayor of Georgetown. “Sheraton Georgetown Texas Hotel will allow us to introduce the Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas, our park system, and other places that make our city unique to visitors outside our region. This project is positioned for the highest level of success and we couldn’t be more excited to have this first-class facility located in Georgetown.”

Sheraton Georgetown Texas is located about 27 miles north of Austin and anchors The Summit at Rivery Park, a new upscale residential and entertainment district. Guests can enjoy convenient access to shopping and dining in Georgetown’s Town Square, the most beautiful square in Texas. Visitors can also explore a wide variety of nearby recreational activities, such as local wineries, preserved caves and accessibility to a gorgeous nine-mile hiking and biking trail on the bank of the San Gabriel River.

To celebrate the grand opening, Sheraton Georgetown Texas is offering a discount of 15% off select rates, plus 500 Bonus SPG points for stays through September 30, 2016. Guests should reference the Grand rate offer when making reservations online or by calling 800-477-3340.

“Texas is one of the top destinations for both leisure and business travelers alike, and an important market for the Sheraton brand to continue its growth in,” said Bob Jacobs, vice president of brand management, Sheraton North America. “The opening of Sheraton Georgetown Texas Hotel & Conference Center underscores our focus on continuously enhancing our portfolio with even more compelling options for our guests and is a valued asset to the brand.”

Located 27 miles outside of Austin, the hotel has 222 guest rooms, a heated outdoor pool, a fitness center, a Sheraton Club Lounge, an open-concept lobby, and a signature restaurant, not to mention a 30,000-square-foot conference center that includes a 16,000-square-foot ballroom and four breakout rooms.

“There is no doubt this is a game-changing project for our city,” said Georgetown Mayor Dale Ross. “Sheraton Georgetown Texas Hotel will allow us to introduce the ‘Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas,’ our park system, and other places that make our city unique to visitors outside our region. This project is positioned for the highest level of success and we couldn’t be more excited to have this first-class facility located in Georgetown.”